Part fiction, history, and mythology, this unconventional retelling of the life of divine spiritual master Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion and revered by Muslims and Hindus alike, provides an intimate look at the enlightened Guru while bringing his ancient wisdom to a modern audience.
From the best-selling author of Ganesha Goes to Lunch and Rumi's Tales from the Silk Road comes an original novel about the life and travels of Guru Nanak, a musician, enlightened thinker, and one of the most beloved figures in Eastern spirituality.
In this fascinating book, Kamla K. Kapur weaves together facts, legends, folktales, myths, and over forty of Guru Nanak's poems-preserved in the Sikh holy book, the Granth Sahib-to form this captivating depiction of the leader's life. From being seduced by deadly women to almost getting eaten by cannibals, the exciting account presented in The Singing Guruincludes moral tales without being proselytizing. Factual details are intermingled with fantasy to produce a symbolic portrait in which humor and imagination combine to convey a profound and entertaining spiritual narrative.
Part fiction, history, and mythology, this unconventional retelling of the life of divine spiritual master Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion and revered by Muslims and Hindus alike, provides an intimate look at the enlightened Guru while bringing his ancient wisdom to a modern audience.
From the best-selling author of Ganesha Goes to Lunch and Rumi's Tales from the Silk Road comes an original novel about the life and travels of Guru Nanak, a musician, enlightened thinker, and one of the most beloved figures in Eastern spirituality.
In this fascinating book, Kamla K. Kapur weaves together facts, legends, folktales, myths, and over forty of Guru Nanak's poems-preserved in the Sikh holy book, the Granth Sahib-to form this captivating depiction of the leader's life. From being seduced by deadly women to almost getting eaten by cannibals, the exciting account presented in The Singing Guruincludes moral tales without being proselytizing. Factual details are intermingled with fantasy to produce a symbolic portrait in which humor and imagination combine to convey a profound and entertaining spiritual narrative.
Kamla K. Kapur is well known in her native India as a
poet, author, and playwright. Her previous work
includes Ganesha Goes to Lunch (2007) and Rumi’s
Tales from the Silk Road (2009). Kapur has also published two
books of poetry, As a Fountain in a Garden and Radha
Speaks, numerous short stories, and a series of award winning
plays. Kapur was on the faculty of Grossmont College in San Diego,
California, for eighteen years and taught courses in play writing,
poetry, creative nonfiction, fiction, mythology, Shakespeare, and
women’s literature. She and her husband, Payson Stevens, divide
their time living in the Kullu Valley in the Indian Himalayas and
in Southern California.
Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh is Professor of Religious
Studies at Colby College. She holds the Crawford Family endowed
chair. She has published extensively in the field of Sikhism. Her
views have also been aired on television and radio around the
world. She serves as a trustee for the American Institute for
Indian Studies, and is on the editorial board of the History of
Religions.
This book is extremely simple to read. It is also power packed with
gems. You want to find out what happens. Mardana is a brilliant
narrator and you get lost in his stories. He silently goes about
peeling layer over layer from your eyes as he makes you want to
embrace a simple and wholesome life.
Give A Little Love Book Blog
"Kamla Kapur has created a Sikh parallel of Homer's "Odyssey" in
the re-imagining of its founder's spiritual journey, cleverly
recounted in the voice of an impish acolyte. As with that work, the
prose melts into melifluous poetry, music to the soul. In company
with the Sikh spiritual leader, Guru Nanak, we travel from magical
place to magical place throughout India and are reminded again and
again of what values should inform our life. You wait until the
saga is over to exhale and still wish there were more. A ripping
read."
Thomas Hoover, author of "Zen Culture and The Moghul"
"Kamla Kapur chooses an innovative and wondrous way of retelling
the eternal truths contained in the life and teachings of Guru
Nanak. Her simple, melodious narrative depicts common human
frailties and deep philosophical complexities with equal ease: "The
Singing Guru" will delight the mind even as it enlightens the
spirit."
Navtej Sarna, author of "The Book of Nanak" and "The Exile"
"Rich imagination, anchored by the spirit of the Janamsakhi
tradition, brings alive the story of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of
Sikhism. Kamla Kapur has written a gripping book in a style that is
both simple and lucid. Her reinterpretation of the Janamsakhis
should find wide resonance among readers."
Roopinder Singh, author of "Guru Nanak: His Life and Teachings"
""The Singing Guru" is simply superb!"
Surjit Patar, renowned Punjabi poet
""The Singing Guru" is a fascinating reconstruction of the Purantan
Janamsakhi tradition. I teach a course on South Asian Literary
Cultures and a work like this would make an engaging text for
students to read.
Harpreet Singh, Department of South Asian Studies, Harvard
University
"I am filled with utmost happiness in my heart going through "The
Singing Guru" and discovering a way to enlightenment. We can only
imagine Guru Nanak singing 500 years ago, and I congratulate the
author on her wonderful, enthusiastic story and the underlying
music that fills it."
Hans Raj Hans, Punjabi Rock star and Sufi singer
"
"This book is extremely simple to read. It is also power packed
with gems. You want to find out what happens. Mardana is a
brilliant narrator and you get lost in his stories. He silently
goes about peeling layer over layer from your eyes as he makes you
want to embrace a simple and wholesome life."
--Give A Little Love Book Blog
"Kamla Kapur has created a Sikh parallel of Homer's "Odyssey" in
the re-imagining of its founder's spiritual journey, cleverly
recounted in the voice of an impish acolyte. As with that work, the
prose melts into melifluous poetry, music to the soul. In company
with the Sikh spiritual leader, Guru Nanak, we travel from magical
place to magical place throughout India and are reminded again and
again of what values should inform our life. You wait until the
saga is over to exhale and still wish there were more. A ripping
read."
--Thomas Hoover, author of "Zen Culture and The Moghul"
"Kamla Kapur chooses an innovative and wondrous way of retelling
the eternal truths contained in the life and teachings of Guru
Nanak. Her simple, melodious narrative depicts common human
frailties and deep philosophical complexities with equal ease: "The
Singing Guru" will delight the mind even as it enlightens the
spirit."
--Navtej Sarna, author of "The Book of Nanak" and "The Exile"
"Rich imagination, anchored by the spirit of the Janamsakhi
tradition, brings alive the story of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of
Sikhism. Kamla Kapur has written a gripping book in a style that is
both simple and lucid. Her reinterpretation of the Janamsakhis
should find wide resonance among readers."
--Roopinder Singh, author of "Guru Nanak: His Life and
Teachings"
""The Singing Guru" is simply superb!"
--Surjit Patar, renowned Punjabi poet
""The Singing Guru" is a fascinating reconstruction of the Purantan
Janamsakhi tradition. I teach a course on South Asian Literary
Cultures and a work like this would make an engaging text for
students to read."
--Harpreet Singh, Department of South Asian Studies, Harvard
University
"I am filled with utmost happiness in my heart going through "The
Singing Guru" and discovering a way to enlightenment. We can only
imagine Guru Nanak singing 500 years ago, and I congratulate the
author on her wonderful, enthusiastic story and the underlying
music that fills it."
--Hans Raj Hans, Punjabi Rock star and Sufi singer
"Kamla Kapur has created a Sikh parallel of Homer's "Odyssey" in
the re-imagining of its founder's spiritual journey, cleverly
recounted in the voice of an impish acolyte. As with that work, the
prose melts into melifluous poetry, music to the soul. In company
with the Sikh spiritual leader, Guru Nanak, we travel from magical
place to magical place throughout India and are reminded again and
again of what values should inform our life. You wait until the
saga is over to exhale and still wish there were more. A ripping
read."
--Thomas Hoover, author of "Zen Culture and The Moghul"
"Kamla Kapur chooses an innovative and wondrous way of retelling
the eternal truths contained in the life and teachings of Guru
Nanak. Her simple, melodious narrative depicts common human
frailties and deep philosophical complexities with equal ease: "The
Singing Guru" will delight the mind even as it enlightens the
spirit."
--Navtej Sarna, author of "The Book of Nanak" and "The Exile"
"Rich imagination, anchored by the spirit of the Janamsakhi
tradition, brings alive the story of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of
Sikhism. Kamla Kapur has written a gripping book in a style that is
both simple and lucid. Her reinterpretation of the Janamsakhis
should find wide resonance among readers."
--Roopinder Singh, author of "Guru Nanak: His Life and
Teachings"
""The Singing Guru" is simply superb!"
--Surjit Patar, renowned Punjabi poet
""The Singing Guru" is a fascinating reconstruction of the Purantan
Janamsakhi tradition. I teach a course on South Asian Literary
Cultures and a work like this would make an engaging text for
students to read."
--Harpreet Singh, Department of South Asian Studies, Harvard
University
"I am filled with utmost happiness in my heart going through "The
Singing Guru" and discovering a way to enlightenment. We can only
imagine Guru Nanak singing 500 years ago, and I congratulate the
author on her wonderful, enthusiastic story and the underlying
music that fills it."
--Hans Raj Hans, Punjabi Rock star and Sufi singer
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